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I live in houston. I have lived in this house for approx 3 years. I noticed last year that my A/C was running all day long. It was toward the end of summer and I had it charged. Dont remember was it was charged to. Now this summer its doing the same thing. When the temp outside gets to the high 80's my A/C keeps going. I also remember installing a digital thermostat last year. Could this be a problem. It reads the correct house temp on its display. I ask about the thermo because my system is supposed to be a dual speed and wonder if it affected it somehow. The thermostat that was in the house was a old POS anyway. just a turn dial type. I am told that I have a 3 ton unit. Rheem/ criterion gas furnace upstairs. Tempstar 2400 outside. House is approx 1800 sq ft. The temp drop is pretty good out of the registers. Attic is pretty well insulated. Coil looks clean. the return air sucks pretty good. I can close the door to the farthest room in the house and feel the air get sucked from under the door. Any help or idead would be appreciated.

If you have a two speed compressor and do not have the right stat it can effect your system performance, but I live in Houston also and I would just imagine at the temps we have had lately the only time it would see the lower speed would be about 5:00 am in the morning, maybe it's just low on charge again, did the prior service company get into any detail about how low it was or even see were the leak might be? or was it just a charge and go? and has it been ok up until now?

[Edited by mrbillpro on 06-25-2005 at 11:36 AM]

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“Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards". - Vernon Law

It was charged last year about 3 pounds maybe? I had it checked again about a week ago and it took minimal charge. If it has a leak its minor. The The hvac guy didnt see anything wrong off hand that was bad. I wanna say after about 1 in the afternoon it continualy runs till about 830 900 at night. I have even taken my filter out of the return to see if its a too restrictive filter. no help. I was told also it might be a slightly undersized unit. I can swear the first summer here it worked fine.

Originally posted by coco here in minnesota 2400 sq ft we put in 2 .5 tons and they work great 20 degree td on a 95 ambient w/ high humidity

Hey we here in Texas are happy for you but you dang sure won't get any 2.5 ton unit to cool 2400 sq. ft. in Houston Texas unless you are installing it in a cave take my word for it been in Houston 54 years and been in this Business for 28 years. If you minnesotians have a trick to make a 2.5-ton a/c work in 2400 sq.ft. at higher humidity conditions could you please sell me your idea? I could make millions in Houston by saving my customers millions.

__________________________________________________ _______________________
“Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards". - Vernon Law

I'm not far from Houston, I live here in hot Louisiana and 2400 sq. ft. home requires a 4 ton unit, a 3 ton unit just won't cut it, if you had a 4 ton you wouldn't have the problem your having now,but being you have a smaller unit than you should have raises questions on how to fix your problem, maybe adding a large window unit in the largest part of your home would help out.
Tough call here.